Minneapolis cop lured girls online, had sex in his car, charges say

To most, he was Bradley Schnickel, a 32-year-old Minneapolis police officer with a wife and children. But online, he assumed a different identify, a prosecutor said.

The Andover father of two referred to himself as "Brady Schmidt" and told two of four juveniles he is accused of soliciting online over the past 18 months that he liked "younger girls," according to a criminal complaint filed against him Friday, Feb. 8, in Anoka County District Court.

He also lied about his age, telling one girl he was 22, for example, the complaint said. He told another he was 19.

"It's my understanding he was quite prolific on social media sites," Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo said. "The allegations are that he misled these young girls into thinking he was much younger."

As his relationships with the girls escalated, he allegedly persuaded two to meet him in person. One 14-year-old allegedly had sex with him in a car parked near Crooked Lake in Anoka County after Schnickel gave the girl Mountain Dew mixed with vodka, the complaint said.

He allegedly masturbated in front of another, a 13-year-old girl he introduced himself to on Facebook and who eventually agreed to meet in his car outside her Coon Rapids residence, the complaint said.

Schnickel kept his head down as Assistant Anoka County Attorney Paul Young described the allegations against him at his first court appearance Friday.

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He is charged with six felonies, including two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child.

His wife did not respond to a request for comment as she left the courtroom following the hearing.

Schnickel was released from Anoka County Jail on Friday afternoon after he posted bail, which had been set at $250,000. He is not allowed to have any contact with juvenile females as a condition of his release, including his two daughters, both of whom are 2 or younger.

Messages left at the couple's Andover home asking for comment were not returned.

Hours after the hearing, Minneapolis police announced Schnickel was no longer employed by the city. Sgt. Steve McCarty said he could not divulge whether Schnickel quit or was fired.

In his relationships with the other two minors mentioned in the complaint, Schnickel is accused of repeatedly asking them to engage in sexual activity with him.

He allegedly sent one 14-year-old more than 15 pictures of his genitals and got her to send him a picture of her wearing a sports bra, the complaint said.

He allegedly told another 14-year-old he "likes girls her age" and said he wanted to take away her virginity.

It is not believed that Schnickel told any of the girls he was a Minneapolis police officer or that he communicated with them while working.

He was placed on paid home assignment from his position as a patrol officer with the department Jan. 24 after Minneapolis police learned of the investigation.

After the allegations against him surfaced, Schnickel allegedly contacted three of the girls, asking them to either change the story they had told police or to deny having any relationship with him, the complaint said.

Prosecutors believe all of those contacts were made within the last week.

In one instance, he showed up at one girl's bus stop, the complaint said.

As the investigation continues, it's possible more victims will arise, Young said, pointing out that investigators have reviewed only a third of the nearly 9,000 pages of electronic evidence against Schnickel.

"Quite frankly, this investigation has barely begun," Young said.

Brooklyn Center police first learned of Schnickel's alleged activity after a parent contacted them about an inappropriate relationship their 14-year-old daughter was having with a man online.

Police got search warrants for her Facebook records, and those pointed to Schnickel.

Investigators have since obtained search warrants to obtain his computers, phones and other items.

A search of his home found two cars matching the description given by the girls Schnickel is accused of meeting, as well as a bottle of vodka.

A separate investigation is under way in Hennepin County regarding the Brooklyn Center case, but no charges have been filed.

Schnickel primarily used Facebook and Skype to communicate with the girls, the complaint said.

Palumbo warned parents to be vigilant of their children's online activity.

"The Internet is obviously a doorway into your home, and that doorway needs to be monitored by parents," he said.